Improved route running big key to Bryant’s success

OXNARD, Calif. – Dez Bryant was eager Tuesday night during his first mass interview of training camp to discuss one of the biggest reasons why he had a breakthrough season in 2012 and is torching every cornerback he faces in training camp.

“I’m a better route-runner now. Way much more better,” he said. “I think I’ve improved a lot. At Oklahoma State, I felt like I was just using just pure talent. I always gave effort but now using technique and what I already have, that makes you that much more dangerous.”

Bryant credits all of his receivers coaches – Ray Sherman, Jimmy Robinson and current mentor Derek Dooley – for helping him improve.

“Coach Dooley hasn’t been here that long, but the way that he emphasizes things, he makes it so easy and makes it so fun,” Bryant said. “The respect that he has for all the receivers is sky high. He does a real great job with us.”

“He’s more consistent – depths, angles, all of those things a quarterback wants to see,” Garrett said. “You’ve got to be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there. It is an old adage in football. The quarterback has to be able to have confidence to get back, seven-step hitch and throw it halfway in the air before he even turns. And when you get to that point you start being a good pass offense. You don’t want to be a guy, hey, he’s supposed to run it at 17 but it’s at 12. You can’t play consistently well on offense when you’re doing those things.

“And Dez, as he has matured as a person, as he’s matured as a player, I think that’s probably the biggest reflection for us when we evaluate him, just the consistency, where he’s supposed to be and when he’s supposed to be there.”